Lava Beds National Monument

Lava Beds National Monument
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
A collapsed lava tube forms a cave entrance
Location in California Show map of California Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Siskiyou and Modoc counties, California, United States
Nearest city	Tulelake, California
Coordinates	41°42′50″N 121°30′30″W / 41.71389°N 121.50833°W / 41.71389; -121.50833
Area	46,692 acres (188.96 km2)[1]
Established	November 21, 1925 (1925-November-21)
Visitors	141,00 (in 2023)[2]
Governing body	National Park Service
Website	www.nps.gov/labe
Lava Beds National Monument Archeological District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
NRHP reference No.	75002182[3]
Added to NRHP	1991

Lava Beds National Monument is located in northeastern California, in Siskiyou and Modoc counties. The monument lies on the northeastern flank of Medicine Lake Volcano, which is the largest volcano by area in the Cascade Range.

The region in and around Lava Beds National Monument lies at the junction of the Sierra-Klamath, Cascade, and Great Basin physiographic provinces. The monument was established as a national monument on November 21, 1925, and includes more than 46,000 acres (190 km²).

Lava Beds National Monument has numerous lava tubes, with 27 having marked entrances and developed trails for public access and exploration. The monument also offers trails through the high Great Basin xeric shrubland desert landscape and the volcanic field. In 1872 and 1873, the area was the site of the Modoc War, involving a band led by Kintpuash (also known as Captain Jack). The area of Captain Jack's Stronghold was named in his honor.